Vacuum tank



INVENTOR ATTOR N EY H. O. BURGIN VACUUM TANK lMay l. 1928.

Filed June 29. 1927 Patented May 1, 1928.

STATES pag.394

PATENT oFFiCE.

HAROLD O. BUR-GIN, F SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

VACUUM TANK.

ApplicationA inea June 29, 192'?. serial No. zoenen'.v

, vision of a tank inwhich the valve'conovercome by the buoyancy ot' the float.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel form of float which has a greater lifting surface area at the top, so that the lifting action of the iioat will be suddenly increased when the liquid reaches a predetermined height in the floatchamben and the air control valvewill be suddenly opened.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for supporting the tank in position for use.

A further object `of the invention is the provision of a filter or screen which may he easily reached and conveniently taken apart for cleaning. Y

-l/Vith theabove andyother objects in View, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand pointed out in the appended claims.`

In the drawings :--V f c l Figurel is a sectional view ot a vacuum tank constructed in accordance with the invention and shown arranged within its supporting bracket. c

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail plan View of' the bracket. A

Reifen-ing to the drawings in detail where in like characters ot reference denote corresponding parts the tank is shown as coinprising an outer casing 10and an inner casing 11, the latter defining a. tloat chamber 12, while the casings 10 and 11 are spaced apart to provide an outer or discharge chamber 13.

The casing 10 is reduced in circumference at its upper open end and provides an annular shoulder 111, while the 12 extends downward into the casing 10 and has a threaded engagement therewith as shown at 15, so thatthe two casings are detachably connected. The inner casing or tloat chain-4 ber is closed by a permanent cap 1G which' may be formed integral with the .casing or connected thereby in any suitable manner.L

The lower end 'of the casing is provided with a removable cap 17 which is threadedly secured in place and this cap is provided with a suction controlled outlet valve 18. The cap 16 is provided with a port 19 for the admission. of fuel and this port is surrounded by anipplc 2() tory connection with the fuel line. A port 21 is also provided in the cap 16 and this port is likewise pro vided with a nipple 22tor connection in the suction line. In addition, there is provided an airinlet port 23 which is surroundedvby a'cage 24tfand this cage is provided with air inlet openings 25. `A valve 26 is arranged within the cage lto control the port 28. 4 f

Located kwithin the chamber 12 is a. .float 27 of any suitable material and this iioat has secured thereto a stem or rod 28 to which the valve 26 is connected7 so lthat the valve has a direct and rigid connection with the float. Theupper end of the float is circumferentially enlarged as at 29 so as ,to provide an increased lifting surface 30. The stem 28 `has its lower end operatingwithin a guidel.

Located within the discharge chamber 13 isa filter 31 which includes circumferential- Y ly arranged annular screens 32 and a removable cap 33, the outf-n'inostv screen 34 being of a relatively lcourse mesh. The filter' is supported by a short pipe section Bhav ing openings 86, so that liquid may pass through the screen and into the pipe 35 whose outer end is designedfto be connected to a carbureter; n y

The cap 16 includes an annular flangef-BG whose edge is beveled Vas indicated at 37 and thisbevelededge is spaced from and opposed to the shoulder 14 so as to engage and clamp between this beveled edge and the said shoulder, an annulusBS. This annulus is carried by a bracket 39 having openings port 23, suction through the suction line and the port 21 will create a vacuum or partial vacuum within the float chamber 12. Fuel will thus be drawn into the float chainber through the port 19 and when the fuel reaches a predetermined level iii the said chamber, the float 27 will rise and lift the valve 26 from its seat. rlhe vacuum within the chamber will thus be broken and the valve 18 will be permitted to open so that the contents of the chamber 12 are discharged into the chamber 13, from where it passes outward through the filter 31 and the pipe 35.

t Particular attention however is directed to the fact that the weight of the float is such that assisted by the vacuum or partial vacuum within the float chamber, the float will not rise until the liquid reaches the lifting surface 30. The buoyancy of the float is thus suddenly increased, so that the valve 26 is suddenly lifted from its seat, upward movement being limited by contact of the upper end of the float with the portion of the cap surrounding the port 23. rllhe float and valve remain in elevated position with the air passing into the float chamber through the port n3', Vuntil the gasoline level falls to a point approximately midway the height of the float chamber. At this point, the weight of the float and the valve will cause the float to descend and seat the valve. The lower end of the inner casing or float chamber 12 is thus always submerged and a liquid seal of the float chamber is thusV obtained. n

As the cap 16 forms a permanent part of the inner casing 11, and as the outer casing has a threaded connection with the inner casing, the tank may be readily removed from the bracket and disassembled when de-v sired.

lVhile the tank is .primarily intended for controlling the supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine, the tank may also be used as an `oil filter.

It willbe apparent from the foregoing description. and accompanying drawings that the invention provides a vacuum feed tank of an exceedingly simple construction, having relatively few moving parts. In addition, the construction is sucli as to insure v rigid and hence longer life.

fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what is claimed is 1. In a vacuum feed tank, an outer casing open at the top, an inner casing extending downwardly into and threadedly engaging the upper part of the outer casing and open at the bottom, a permanent cap forming a closure for the top of the inner casing and having a fuel intake port and a suction port therein, an air intake port also providedcin the cap7 a valve to control the air intake port, afloat within the inner chamber and associatedk with the valve to control the latter, a cap closing the lower end of the inner casing and a valve controlled outlet for said inner casing.

2. In a vacuum feed tank, an outer casing, an inner casing, a` cap closing the top of the inner casing and having a fuel intake port, a suction port and an air intake port, a, valve controlled outlet for the inner casing, a float operated valve for controlling the air intake port, an outlet port for the outer casing, an annular shoulder provided upon the outer vcasing adjacent the top, a vflange extending around the cap of the inner casing andspaced from the shoulder, a supporting bracket including an annular ineinber adapted to receive the ytank and means detacliably connecting the inner and outer casings whereby the annular` member of the bracket may be clamped between the slioulder of the outer casing and the ange of the tank.

3. In a vacuum feed tank having an outer casing, an inner easing, an annular shoulder upon the outer casing, an annular flange rigid with the inner casing and spaced above and opposed to the annular shoulder, a supporting bracket, an annular member carried thereby and adapted to receive the tank and ineansto detachably connect the` inner and outer easiiigs to clamp the annular member between the shoulder and flange.

Ll. In a vacuum feed tank having an outer casing, an inner casing, an annular shoulder upon the outer casing, an annular' flange rigid with the inner casing and spaced above and opposed to the annular shoulder, a supporting bracket, an annular member carried thereby and adapted to receive the tank and means to adjustably and detachably connect the inner and outer casings to clamp the annular member between the shoulder and flange.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HAROLD O. BURGIN. 

